Aretha Franklin's Lawyer Explains Why Singer Did Not Have a Will at Time of Her Death

The late Aretha Franklin left no will or
trust for her reported $80 million estate, and her family could now face
lengthy court proceedings when dividing up her fortune.
Franklin's attorney of 28 years, Don Wilson, confirmed to The Associated
Press that there were no plans in place for the Queen of Soul's
wealth.

"I tried to convince her that she should do not just a will but a trust
while she was still alive,” Wilson said. “She never told me, ‘No, I
don’t want to do one.’ She understood the need. It just didn’t seem to
be something she got around to.”

According to Michigan law, Franklin's four sons, Clarence Franklin,
Edward Franklin, Kecalf Franklin and Ted White Jr, will divide their
mother's assets equally in the absence of a will. Franklin's niece,
Sabrina Owens, has accepted the role of executor for the estate, and the
case is before Judge Jennifer Callaghan.

The singer maintained ownership of songs she wrote, but some of her most
famous hits, like "Respect," were owned by other writers or performers,
and any money from royalties would go to them. Other reported assets
include property in the Detroit area estimated to be worth at least $2
million.

The music icon died from advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type on Aug. 16 at age 76.

On Friday, Detroit's Greater Grace Temple hosted a funeral fit for a
queen, attended by friends, family and fans. Attendees included former
President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cicely Tyson, and Tyler Perry, with
performances from Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Faith Hill, and Stevie
Wonder, and many more.

The funeral, or "homegoing" as it was often referred to, followed a week
of tributes to the legendary singer, that included a public memorial
and viewing for fans to pay respects in person.